The Guardians got exactly what they needed from most of their bullpen in Game 5. What they didn’t get was enough offense to make any of it matter.
Cleveland dropped a 3-1 decision to the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS, and now trails the series 3-2 with elimination looming in Game 6 on Monday in Tampa Bay.
Parker Messick, who has been one of Cleveland’s most dependable arms all season, couldn’t settle in. The All-Star finished the regular season with a 2.56 ERA, 193 strikeouts and a 1.063 WHIP, but his postseason line had been shakier entering Sunday, with a 3.09 ERA, 14 strikeouts, eight walks and a 1.71 WHIP in three starts. Against the Rays, he lasted just two innings, giving up five hits, two walks and two earned runs while striking out three.
Stephen Vogt turned to the bullpen early, and aside from one blemish, the group held up. Tim Herrin was charged with the only damage from that unit, surrendering a Chandler Simpson double in the top of the third. Simpson then swiped third and came home on a Liam Hicks single.
After that, Cleveland’s relievers mostly slammed the door. Shawn Armstrong, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith all turned in scoreless outings.
The problem was the other side of the game never woke up. The Guardians managed their only run in the bottom of the sixth, when Steven Kwan singled, moved to third on José Ramírez’s single and then scored on Chase DeLauter’s groundout to trim the gap to 3-1.
That was as close as Cleveland got. The final three innings passed without a rally, and Rays starter Drew Rasmussen controlled the game from the other dugout, working seven innings and allowing four hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out six.
This is familiar ground for the Guardians, who showed in the ALDS that they can flip a series when the pressure is highest. They trailed 2-0 there before winning three straight to move on. But if they’re going to pull off another turnaround and reach the World Series for the first time since 2016, the bats have to catch up fast.
Cleveland scored nine runs in Games 3 and 4 of the ALDS and seven runs in Game 1 of the ALCS, but hasn’t topped three runs in a game since. Against a Rays staff this sharp, that’s not enough to keep surviving.
In Other News...
Guardians Just Got An Added Insult Before Elimination Game In Tampa
The Guardians head to Tampa facing elimination after the Rays grabbed a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series with a 3-1 win in Game 5. For Cleveland, the margin for error is gone, and the next stop at Tropicana Field carries all the weight that comes with a season hanging in the balance.
Yandy Daz added to the mood around the series by sounding confident the Rays will finish the job in Game 6 on their home field, while also singling out Drew Rasmussen for the quality of his pitching in this matchup. Cleveland now has to answer not just Tampa Bays momentum, but the confidence the Rays are carrying into a potential clincher. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Vogt Just Raised The Stakes With Cleveland's Game 6 Plan
The Guardians are choosing patience over urgency as the ALCS shifts back into a critical Game 6, with Stephen Vogt saying Gavin Williams will not take the ball on short rest. Williams last worked in Game 3, and Cleveland is keeping him lined up for a potential Game 7 on regular rest instead of pushing him into a role that could compromise what comes next.
So Game 6 becomes a different kind of test for Clevelands pitching staff, one that will lean on Tanner Bibee and a collection of bullpen arms to get through the night. Its the kind of decision that speaks to how tightly the series is being managed, with the Guardians trying to balance the immediate pressure of elimination against the possibility of needing their best arm one more time. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Turn To An Unexpected Arm In Must Win Game 6
The Guardians are making a pivot in a do-or-die moment, handing the Game 6 opener role to right-hander Shawn Armstrong as they try to keep their season alive. Cleveland has already seen what a steady postseason arm can do from the other side, with Rays starter Drew Rasmussen following up a strong run with another dominant Game 5 outing, while the Guardians are still trying to settle the top of their pitching plan after rookie Parker Messick struggled in his recent start.
Freddy Peralta is lined up to start Game 6 for Tampa Bay, adding another layer to a matchup that has tilted toward the Rays pitching depth. For Cleveland, the decision to turn to Armstrong is a clear sign of how tight the margin is now, and how much the Guardians are leaning on flexibility rather than a more traditional formula as they face one last chance to force the series on. [Read more 🡒]